Dimensionless Numbers for Plant Biology

Joseph K E Ortega

doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2017.09.020

Dimensionless Numbers for Plant Biology

Trends Plant Sci. 2018 Jan;23(1):6-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2017.09.020. Epub 2017 Nov 5.

Author

Joseph K E Ortega¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, 1200 Larimer Street, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USA. Electronic address: joseph.ortega@ucdenver.edu.

PMID: 29102260
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2017.09.020

Abstract

Dimensionless numbers are ubiquitous in the physical sciences because they provide insight into physical processes, organize large quantities of data, facilitate 'scale analysis' and establish 'similarity'. Here I explore the use of dimensionless numbers in plant biology, focusing on the expansive growth rate of plant, fungal, and algal cells.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Biophysics / methods*
Cell Wall / physiology
Models, Biological*
Plant Cells / physiology*